Sheriff Michael Gayer said monetary donations can be made to the Shop with a Cop account at any Alliance Bank so the children less fortunate can choose an item for Christmas this year.
Heroin Causing Problems in Pulaski County
A dangerous drug is making a resurgence in the area, as Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said the county has seen its third death as a direct result of a heroin overdose. Gayer said the third death was less than a week ago; the man was found by a roommate with heroin and paraphernalia nearby.
Gayer explained it’s difficult to combat this new danger in the community, as thus far, it’s staying under the radar.
Friday Morning Accident Claims Life of Francesville Teenager
A Francesville teenager died of injuries sustained in a car accident Friday morning.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s deputies were called to State Road 114 and County 1600 West shortly after 7 a.m. on a report of a serious accident. Deputies investigated the scene and found that 19-year-old Zachery R. Conkel of Francesville failed to stop at that intersection and struck the right side of a semi tractor trailer driven by 42-year-old Gilberto Alvarez of Lansing, Illinois.
Pulaski County Commissioners Discuss Military Vehicle Use
Pulaski County Emergency Management Agency Director Larry Hoover and Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Chief Deputy Ron Patrick discussed military equipment at the commissioners’ recent meeting.
Hoover explained that the sheriff’s department and the EMA can use equipment no longer used by the military for various uses. Hoover talked with the commissioners about selling that equipment after a period of time.
Winamac Man Arrested after 101 Marijuana Plants Found
A Winamac man was arrested Sunday after Pulaski County deputies reportedly found a marijuana growing operation on his property.
A deputy was checking the area of 625 North and 800 West as he received an anonymous call of suspicious activity in the area. The officer got out of his car at a location where he saw a home ruined by a fire and two outbuildings. He approached a shed and was greeted by a man later identified as Rodger Birnbaum, 57, of Winamac. He had been carrying an electric screw driver and set it down to talk to the officer. The officer reportedly smelled a strong marijuana smell and asked to search the shed. Birnbaum asked the officer why he would do that and the officer explained that he could smell marijuana coming from the shed and he observed Birnbaum acting suspiciously.
Two Arrested After Search Warrant Executed
Police arrived at a fifth-wheel camper on 250 North and saw children playing outside but no adults. Officers attempted to get someone to answer the door, but no one came to the door. The officers thought it would be in the best interest to see if anyone was in the camper so they announced their presence and entered the camper.
Winamac Man Arrested After Injury Accident
A Winamac man was arrested Friday after allegedly hitting a woman with a car.
Shane Reed, 26, was driving southbound on County Road 300 West and reportedly told police that he saw two people standing in the roadway. He said one of the two people moved off the roadway but the other didn’t. He advised that he attempted to avoid hitting the person, but could not.
Pulaski Council Approves Salary Ordinance Revision for Sheriff’s Department
The Pulaski County Council on Monday approved a revision to the salary ordinance regarding dispatchers for the sheriff’s department, reducing their number of hours per week while increasing their base pay. This will allow them to work 40 hours per week as opposed to 42 hours as they have been while keeping their paychecks the same.
Knox Woman Arrested on Drug Charges in Pulaski County
A Pulaski County officer pulled over Karen Howard’s vehicle after noticing she failed to use a turn signal. Police also received a tip that she might have drugs in the vehicle.
Several Wanted Felons Arrested in Pulaski County
Since members of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department put wanted persons on the department’s Facebook page, seven arrests have been made.
Pulaski County Sheriff Michael Gayer said that anonymous tips came into the department about several subjects featured on the social media site and officers followed up on those tips. Seven arrests have been made and more are anticipated.
Sheriff Gayer said that on Monday, Aug. 12, a list of wanted felons was posted on the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office Facebook page. Call the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department at (574) 946-6655 if you have an anonymous tip as to where the felons may be, but do not attempt to take them into custody on your own.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Features Wanted Subjects on Facebook
Sheriff Michael Gayer said the department is using all possible means to locate those who are charged with criminal and civil action. He is hoping to bring in those who need to respond to charges against them.
Two Injured in Accident South of Winamac
A 42-year-old Monticello man and a juvenile were injured Tuesday, June 18 late in the evening after a car vs. motorcycle accident on U.S. 35 south of Winamac near County Road 225 South.
Stanley Dunkler of Knox told Pulaski County deputies that he was driving on U.S. 35 when he entered into the other lane and collided with a motorcycle driven by Tyrone Anderson of Monticello.
Medaryville Man Arrested on Burglary, Theft Charges
Joshua Shepherd, 25, was arrested on preliminary charges of Burglary, a Class C felony and Theft, a Class D felony.
Storms Wreak Havoc in Kankakee Valley Area
Fierce storms whipped through the Kankakee Valley area Friday night causing damage.
The storm caused flooding in Pulaski County where over three inches of rain fell in a half-hour period. A Pulaski County officer noted to dispatch that the water was up over the hood of his squad car while in the town of Winamac. The drains couldn’t keep up with the amount of water that fell in that short amount of time. Several cars were stranded in the road during the storm, several trees fell, a power outage was reported, and several roads washed out as a result of the rushing water. Homeowners may also need to deal with roofing damages due to heavy rains and strong winds. Businesses have been affected as well, making commercial roof replacement companies a bit busier than usual for this time of year.
The Pulaski County Highway Department was out Saturday patching up the roads and cutting up the many trees that fell in the road.
Luckily, no injuries were reported.
The Melody Drive-In theater at Bass Lake suffered damage as well with the demolition of Screen One. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a couple of other notices of trees down but no other damage.
Marshall County Emergency Management Agency Director Clyde Avery said there is ponding in fields in the Marshall County area and he’s monitoring river levels after the storms. Trees were reported down in the area, but no injuries were reported.
Photos by Denice Daggett and William Boldt
Two Arrested after Traffic Stop in Pulaski County
One adult and one juvenile were taken into custody after Pulaski County police allegedly found drugs in a car after a traffic stop Friday morning.
A Pulaski County deputy was patrolling on U.S. 421 when he saw a vehicle operating without a working passenger side headlight or a license plate light. The officer pulled over the vehicle just south of Medaryville and found a 17-year-old male operating the vehicle. As the driver was attempting to locate the requested license and registration, the officer reportedly saw a marijuana cigarette in the vehicle.
Pulaski County Police, Coroner Investigate Hanging
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department and the Pulaski County Coroner are investigating an apparent suicide in the Medaryville community.
The Pulaski County 911 Dispatch Center received a call Saturday afternoon that a man was hanging in a garage in Medaryville. The dispatchers, who are trained as emergency medical dispatchers, gave information over the phone on how to prolong the victim’s life until emergency responders could arrive at the scene. Richard Scott Reid, 46, was then airlifted to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. He later died of the injuries he received in the hanging.
Pulaski County Police Investigate Head-on Crash
A Winamac man was arrested Friday after reportedly causing an injury accident in Pulaski County.
At 7:45 p.m. ET Thursday night, a head-on crash was reported to Pulaski County dispatch on County Road 300 West south of County Road 250 North. Witnesses and forensic evidence proved that 39-year-old Jennifer Keller was struck head-on after a vehicle driven by Joey Allen Frinkel, 28, was traveling sideways and in Keller’s path of travel. Keller and her 16-year-old son were taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital after receiving minor injuries in the accident. A passenger in Frinkel’s vehicle was taken to Pulaski Memorial Hospital and later airlifted to Parkview Memorial Hospital in Fort Wayne and is listed in critical condition.
Winamac Man Arrested on Possession Charges
A Winamac man was arrested after he was found to be in possession of drugs near the Eastern Pulaski School Corporation.
A Pulaski County deputy was patrolling just south of Winamac when he noticed that the vehicle in front of him did not have a properly working license plate light. The driver also failed to activate his turn signal when turning onto a Winamac street.
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Accidental Shooting
The Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department is investigating an accidental shooting.
Dispatchers received a 911 call shortly after 10:00 p.m. ET Wednesday night from a man who stated his brother-in-law, 60-year-old John W. Heck, shot himself in the head.
When emergency personnel arrived at 335 E. 100 S. in Winamac, they found Heck on the floor with an apparent gunshot wound to the head. He was breathing and unresponsive when he was transported to Pulaski Memorial Hospital . He was subsequently taken to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne. He later died of his injuries at the hospital.
Pulaski County Deputies Arrest Two for Theft of Anydrous Ammonia
Two Rensselaer men have been arrested for stealing anhydrous ammonia at a property in Pulaski County.
The owner of a farming operation reportedly spotted 36-year-old Brandon Scott Hitt and 41-year-old Michael Kasnick, Jr. stealing anhydrous ammonia from a tank on the property. Two Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department deputies responded to the scene and were told that the suspect’s vehicle was traveling with its headlights off on a county road near the scene.
